$500 Venetian Deep Stack

Since the WSOP sold out today I decided to play the Venetian. I get down here around 1 and surprisingly, I'm not an alternate.

Wow. I feel like I'm already a winner.

Table 53 seat 5. 15,000 in starting chips (well 14,450 for me since I arrived a little late) and 40 minute levels.

I officially have the slowest most boringest table evar! Here's how my day has gone so far: fold fold fold fold fold fold fold call check fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold fold.

Awesome.

12K at first break.

Table draw:

Seat 1: RWG with a blue PSP. He looks too old to have one
Seat 2: A woman. Not hot. Possibly a midget. Oops. Confirmed busto.
Seat 3: RBG who can't handle his chips and he's already mistakenly raised a couple of hands preflop when he was trying to call.
Seat 4: A woman. Asian. Also a dealer and not not hot.
Seat 5: JDN
Seat 6: RAG
Seat 7: RWG with a WSOP hoodie.
Seat 8: ROWG, a long time grinder that I've seen around a bunch. No clue as to his name.
Seat 9: RAG
Seat 10: RWG, super aggro with continuation bets and reraising.

PSP guy is wearing a Rio All Suite Hotel shirt that says, "Paradise Found." I wonder if he's ever actually be to the Rio.

I get it all in with AK on a A K 4 board against seat 10. He shows AK. Chop chop. That's most action I've seen all day.

The PSP guy makes is 550 to go in the 100/200 25 ante level and he gets called in 4 spots including me.

The flop falls T 8 6. The not not hot Asian dealer bets out 1300 and I call. Everyone else folds.

The turn is a 9. She bets 3600. I call.

The river is a 7. Hey! Thats a straight on the board. She thinks about it for a moment before checking. Hmmmm. I wonder what the amount is that she would fold to and I wonder how much she would call.

I bet 6000. I'm pretty sure she would fold to an all in. She's got about 9K behind her.

After a bit she makes the crying call. I show JJ and take down the pot with a J high strizzle.

Up to 28K.

A few hands later I bust her with QQ and get my stack up to 33K.

Right around 32K at second break. Haven't really had any strong hands and I've been manufacturing all of my pots.

First hand back the PSP guy raises it up to 2300. The RWG to my right moves all in and the guy on my left that looks like a mini Layoto Machida moves all in too. Then the dealer mucks his cards.

Wait! What?

The floor is called over and the decision is made to take 2300 out of his stack, give him the rest of the chips back and lecture him on protecting his hand.

It saved him money. Both of the other players flopped sets and rivered full houses.

I look down at 22 and raise it up to 2100 in late position and get called by the old timey grinder from the small blind.

The flop is HOLY SHIT! A girl just sat down in seat 1 with giant boobies. Motorboat!

Ok where was I? I can't remember what I was writing about.

Anywoo I fired two bullets with 22 on a board of A 6 7 K to take down a nice pot.

40300 at color up. The girl with big boobies is cold.

Well level 8 sucked moosecock bro. I lost 6000 with TT and a few hands later I lost 8500 with 88. I wish my nickname was the man with no sets or the man with no nuts.

The big titty committee can't remember to put her antes out. Damn annoying. Then she busts. Ding!

I would say that 60% of the time my first card is a K. 100% of the time the second card does not complement the King.

772 total players for this tourney. 74 pay and $101,000 for first.

42,900 at 3rd break. Right about average with 260 players left.

Annnnd we're on dinner break.

Apparently someone at another table disagreed with a ruling that one way or the other caused him to bust out. So this gentleman decided the best course of action was to dump everyone's chips into the middle of the table.

As you can imagine chaos erupted and security was called. The guy tried to make a getaway but the poker room manager, Kathy Raymond, caught him in the parking lot.

So the TDs called an early dinner so that they could check the cameras and figure out who's chips are who's.

Awesome. Chipotle here I come.

Watched the ping pong championships at dinner.

Entering burrito coma post dinner break.

Levels 10 & 11 go as follows: fold fold fold fold fold fold fold think about it... fold fold fold fold fold fold

Then I look down at JJ in middle position. Ok I have 25,600. I got abot 13 big blinds. Do I raise to 6K or just stick it in?

That's what she said.

I stick it in.

That's what she said.

I get called by the big blind who just happens to be my new British friend Ramsey, with AK.

He blanks out and I double to 53K.

An orbit later I flop my first set and check raise the RBG in seat 2 to snatch 20K off of him.

I'm up to 72K which is a just hair below average.

I stopped writing at this pot and I will now post responses to my tweets.

# 1
Rocking my moose cock off to Preistess and it seems to be working. Flopped first of the day. 73K with 140 players 73 pay.

Umm yeah, pretty much already talked about this. I don't really have a moose cock, its more of a mouse cock.

# 2
68K at break. A bit below average. Waiting for that rush to hit. Maybe I'll order a heineken.

I did order a Heine and I won $10 playing video poker. I promised myself not to play video poker but I have a hard time keeping to my personal promises.

# 3
47500 going into the 2k/4k level. About 90 left 73 pay. Why do I get myself in these situations? Need to cash so I can shave.

I made a bet with myself not to shave or get a hair cut until I cash. Let's just say that the GF is not a fan of this.

# 4
On the money bubble. I have 12 chips for exactly 36K. Average is 160k. Short stack ninja or fold machine?

LA Mike told me to shove every hand and Robin, Perry's GF told me to fold every hand. Not a fan of either of those options.

# 5
Just saw half a nipple on a giant boobie while walking back from the can. That's good luck right? Still on the bubble.

It was a giant boobie and I saw the part around the nozzle. Whats that called?

# 6
It was a lucky nipple! And the monkey is off my back. I can shave! And I won $73. WTF?

Pretty sure I'm gonna start asking to see nipples when I get near the money. It probably would have got me to the money in the 5K PLO8.

# 7
Busto. 66 vs KK. Both hit sets. Don't know what place or how much I'm getting but at least I cam shave now.

So I end up getting AK twice after we redraw with 72 left. I get up to 78K, a high for the day, before I move in with 66 from middle position. I rivered a set but the other guy turned his set.

Oh well. I got 52nd and $894. It was my first cash since February... holy fuck thats bad, but I think I played awesome.

I never had AA or KK and got every chip I could with the shit hands I had. This is a good sign.

JDN

WSOP $1500 PLO 8

I think I broke my finger last night playing trivia with Gavin. Don't ask how. It's a long story.

Amazon Room (yay first time in here!). Orange table 72 seat 9.

1500 starting chips with two rebuy chips. 1 hour levels.

Table draw:

Seat 1: Jacobo Frenandez AKA The Human Rain Delay
Seat 2: RAG
Seat 3: Perry Friedman
Seat 4: ROWG
Seat 5: My arch nemesis from the Hollywood Park days, Mickey "Mouse" Mills
Seat 6: Mike "Salt of the Earth" Gracz
Seat 7: ROWG
Seat 8: Random Euro
Seat 9: JDN

This table needs more Euros and less ROWGs.

This is gonna be a long day...

I sit down and double up to 3000 pretty quick in a drawing hand vs Jacobo when I hit my wrap for a straight against what had to be a set. Sweet!

Near the end of the 2nd level it's big pot time. 4 way all in with Jacobo, Perry, a ROWG and myself.

I had the nut low draw that couldn't be counterfitted vs Perry's full house vs Jacobo's trips and nut low draw vs the ROWG's top pair. I whiffed.

I use my rebuy chips and I have 3000 at 1st break.

We get back from break and have pause for the bracelet cerimony. Lame.

Jason Potter sits down in seat 2 and Joe Tehan takes seat 4.

A couple of hands in, Joe Tehan doesn't quite pot it from middle position and its folded to me. I have Ac 8c As Qs. I pot it to 1350.

Joe calls half his stack off as the flop comes 5d 6c 9d. I move in for 2000 and Joe quickly calls the all in.

I open my hand and Joe says, "Pretty good flop for my hand..."

Oh Jesus. Joe shows Ad 4d 7h Jh. What? Wait! Did Joe Tehan really just call off half his stack preflop with that?

Oh My Gawd.

The turn is a 3h and I'm drawing dead. Well played Mr Tehan.

I'm down to 450.

A few hands later I get it all in with K K T 9. Joe calls from the big blind as the does the original raiser in seat 7.

The board runs out 3 J T 9 K. Don't you worry, Tehan shows the ole 2 8 Q J for the 2nd nut straight. The old guy shows A A 2 T.

The best part of the hand was that Joe talked the guy out of betting on the flop because there was no side pot.

Nice.

Normally I like Joe Tehan, but today is he's a fuck wit. Sorry Joe, you just earned the title and you really deserve it.

JDN

$500 Venetian Deep Stack

I get to the Venetian 45 minutes late and there's a line 60 deep. Not all these people can be as lazy as me... or can they?

Table 74 seat 4.

15,000 in chips, 40 minute level. Game on!

Table draw:
Seat 1: Possible Euro but... I only say that because he's wearing white capris and sandals. He also has a tattoo on his arm that says "I DEAL IN LEAD.". WTF does that mean? Then he talks with a Southern drawl. I'm confused here.
Seat 2: RWG that looks like he bought his outfit at Metro Park. Too much going on there to describe. His gf is also sitting behind me on the rail which is annoying.
Seat 3: RAG that busts and is replaced by a ROWG
Seat 4: RAG
Seat 5: JDN. Oops I guess I'm in 5 and not 4. Too lazy to correct it.
Seat 6: ROWG
Seat 7: RYWG with a Jew Fro.
Seat 8: RAG.
Seat 9: Faux Euro with some horrid looking hair plugs. I wish could take a picture. With his hair line it looks like a stringy triangle on top of his head.
Seat 10: RYWG

Wait! Why am I only getting two cards here? And what's this no limit thing all about?

It's been a while go easy on me.

I DEAL IN LEAD (which I now think must be a line from Gunsmoke or Kenny Loggins) busts when he pushs in preflop with 8h 9h with 75 big blinds. Now the nonsense tattoo makes sense.

A RPG with a very bedazzled shirt takes his place.

I pick up AA in the 75/150 level and after a preflop raise I see a flop of 8d 9d 4s with the faux Euro. He check raises me to 2500. Hmmm. He's either got top pair or a flush draw. I briefly consider a set but I decide I can't be that unlucky already.

So I reraise him to 6000. I leave myself enough to fold if he moves in. Not that I would actually fold, I just want the option. He thinks for a few seconds before calling. Ha! Gotcha bitch!

The turn is another 4 and he checks to me. I move in for 7000.

They've sent two alternates to the table without chips. The Venetian is slowly turning into a Harrahs property.

In a multiway limped pot I flop a set of 7s on a Q T 7 flop. I bet out and get called by the ROWG to my right. He def has a Q.

The turn is a J. I bet out again. It takes him a few moments of thought before he calls. He really wanted to raise there. He's got QJ.

The river is a Q. Fuck!

I check he bets 1K into a 5K pot. Is that a value bet? Now I think he might have AQ or KQ. Only a moron would make that bet. Right? It's only 1K. I call.

He shows QJ. Lame!

I show him my smaller full house and he says, "I didn't know you were that strong."

"Next time I'll tell you by betting." I reply.

20K at first break.

I pretty much just play small ball for the next few level and get up to 32K before I play 77 vs the ROWG to my left. Again. He's my pocket 7s mush.

Needless to say I somehow lose 11K in the hand. Down to 17K.

In the last hand before break I pick up a nice 6K pot with AQ (I know, crazy!) and get up around 21K.

21K at break.

Had to lay down JJ to the kid in seat 10 after he put the squeeze on our raise and call. I showed him the jacks and he was mildly surprised. Maybe it wasn't a squeeze but he's one of two other peeps at this table that know what a squeeze is.

20K at color up.

Good gawd it freezing in here!

Just trying to hang on until dinner break so I can go to Chipotle and service my burrito addiction. I'll probably go there anyway, since I'm an addict.

In the big blind I call a 2700 raise from the faux Euro with Tc 7c. The flop comes T 8 6. I bet 5100 he calls. The turn is a Q. Hmmm. I check.

He thinks for a bit, long enough to figure out that he doesn't have anything, before he moves in for 9000 something. I call pretty quick and he shows Ad Kd.

Gotta fade 11 outs... and I do. Double up to 40Kish. Sweet.

Oh look at that. Beth "The Cougar" Shak is now following me on Twitter. Who's a bad kitty?

The table breaks and I get moved to a much warmer part of the casino.

This new table has a couple of RPGs, a RAG, and 1 lone ginger with a creepy soul patch. He looks like Shaft from Youngblood.

A few minutes before break I call an all in from a short stack with 44. He shows 9s 7s and he flops the ten high straight. WTF? Is he related to Jeremiah Smith?

41,700 at dinner break.

Hi my name is JD and I have a problem...

I come back from dinner and lose 10K by calling preflop raises and check folding the flop.

Then the table breaks and I get moved to a table with a ton of chips. Awesome.

First hand dealt to me and I look down a 66. There was a raise in early position and I call. The flop is T 8 5. The old guy, who already had the chips in his hand, bets out 15K. I move in.

It takes him a few moments to call and I flip over my 66. He looks at the board, looks at his hand and looks at mine. I gotta be good here right?

It takes him about 30 seconds to turn over his hand, 77.

Nice slow roll douche bag.

Busto.

JD

WSOP $1500 HORSE

goat on horse!

I arrive a little late and have to wait for the big blind to start playing. I catch the last hand of Omaha and look down at Ah Ad 2d 5h. I raise and get called by 5 players and lose to the ole K 9.

Our second dealer didn't know there was a burn in stud. Half the table didn't know either.

My #2 stud mush David Singer sits down in seat 8.

Brasilia Room. Table 233. Seat 4.

Table draw:

Lakers win!!!

Roland de Wolfe wins!!!!

Seat 1: RWG
Seat 2: RWG
Seat 3: RWG
Seat 4: JDN
Seat 5: RWG
Seat 6: Random Lady. I don't know of what origins.
Seat 7: Russian Guy from the other HORSE
Seat 8: David Singer

The guy to my left check called 7th street in stud with trip aces. Of course I had trip 8s.

I go on a heater in the first level (where were you yesterday Mr Heater) and I head into the break with 6600.

After 2nd break I have 5000. On the first hand of hold'em I look down at 99 and raise it up. I get called by the doofus to my left and I bet out on a J T 6 board. He instaraises me. I could already see the chips in his hand before mine hit the felt.

So I reraise him. He calls. The turn is an A and I bet out, he calls. The river is something... I can't remember, but I bet out again and he calls with AQ. Moron.

The very next hand its raised by the new Asian kid in seat 6. I call from the big blind with QT. The flop is J 3 3. I check he bets I call. The turn is a 9, which I really like because it gives me an open ended straight draw. I'm figuring both of my cards are live too. No real read to get to that assumption. I just always assume I got two lives ones.

I bet he calls. The river is a blank and I fire out another bet leaving me 125 behind. I show him my 125 left, daring him to raise me. He decides to call with AK. Awesome.

Down to 125.

This should be the end of the story but its not. I double up twice and actually survive to Omaha.

In Omaha I look down Ad 3s 4s 5s and limp into a multiway pot. The flop is A 6 T. I get all my money and the turn is a 4. Think that just fucked me. The river is another low card giving me aces up and a 5 3 low. Don't you worry. David Singer has a flush and a 5 2 low.

Busto.

Oh and what are the odds that the same guy busts you out of 2 HORSE tournaments with a combined population of 1000 players in less than a week?

Even money if you're JDN

WSOP $5K PLO8 Day 2

Amazon Room Table 88 Seat 4

I walk into the Amazon room and they announce that we're playing in the Brasilia room. Bah!

Table draw:
Seat 1: RWG
Seat 2: Random White Chick. Last one in the tourney.
Seat 3: ROWG
Seat 4: JDN
Seat 5: Mickey Appleman, looking like he slept in a park.
Seat 6: RWG
Seat 7: Kevin Petterson
Seat 8: Andy Black
Seat 9: Empty

Mickey doubles the 2nd hand of the day, then busts seats 6 and 7 a few hands later.

At table breaks and we get a Random German Pokerstars Pro (RGPSP?) in seat 6, Alex Kravchenko in seat 7 and Brent Richey in seat 9.

I bust the RWG in seat 1 when my aces hold up against his A 2 3 x.

Up to 208K.

Mickey Appleman is a cockroach. He just can't bust. He got a sick call for all his chips from Andy Black, then tripled up, then lost all his chips, then doubled back up again.

Down to 45.

Mickey Appleman has a pager.

175K at break.

Chufty is moved to seat 1. He does not know how to play hi lo. Obv.

Down to 36 and another table breaks. Two short stacks get moved to our table and one of them is Jeff Lisandro.

It's awesome watching the Euros play PLO8 and really never considering the low part. Likewise the American players generally just go for the low.

Brain fart and I'm down to 100K. No details. I order a Heineken.

89K at dinner break.

Two hands after the end Of dinner break we lose a player. Down to 27 time for a redraw.

On to table 192 seat 4.

Other notables at the table:
Seat 1: Brent Richey
Seat 2: Andy Black
Seat 4: JDN
Seat 6: Andy Bloch
Seat 7: Chris Bell

Down to 23 players.

Ivey shows up to play 1 hand and busts. Then he heads back to the OE tournament to win another bracelet. Down to 21.

A short stack pots it in late position and I look down a A Q Q 6. I call from the big blind. The flop is A 5 7. I know for a fact that he has A 2 and that I have the best high hand. My biggest hope is that he's holding a 9 T in there too. Pretty sure all I got to do is avoid him making two pair and I'll scoop this hand. I willing to gamble on that so I bet pot.

He moves in. A 2 3? He shows Ac 2s 4c 9c. He's pretty much got the low locked up so I guess I gotta avoid the two pair. Turn 2. Fuck. River 2. Fuck fuck. He's scoops with a live 4 for the low.

We count out the stack and I have him covered by 4500. Awesome.

I get my 4500 in on the next hand and triple up to 12k. That doesn't last long when I call all but 1500 off when the lady gets me drawing dead on the turn.

I get my 1500 all in on the small blind and hit a flush to take half the pot and double to 3000.

A couple of hands later I double again to 6000.

On the last hand before break I'm the big blind and with 4000 and already committed to the pot I get all in with 9 6 5 7 vs the guy that I doubled up's A A x x.

Outsky in 21st.

Probably the most painful day I've ever had in poker. I couldn't win a hand. When I played tight I had to check fold the flop. When I gambled, I bricked out. I can only think of 2 hands that I picked up after the turn or scooped at show down. I could not catch a break.

I'm so drained by the day that I don't want to play poker again for a long time.

This is my 3rd bubble bust in as my years at the WSOP. HORSE HORSE PLO8. All in games that I consider myself to be above average in. This has been so brutal.

JDN

WSOP $5K Pot Limit Omaha 8 or better

Brasilia Room. Table 242. Seat 3.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

5000 in chips with 2 rebuy chips worth 5000 each.

I sweat Gavin for a bit in the stud8 / Omaha 8 tourney where he tries to get our Prince Albert bet on again. I turn it down, which I think, it a good fold on my part.

Table draw:

Seat 1: Justin Smith aka Boosted J. He just busted in 9th from the 2-7 No limit. Hopefully he's on tilt.
Seat 2: Max "The Italian Pirate" Pescatori
Seat 3: JDN
Seat 4: ROWG possible Euro
Seat 5: Random FTP Pro. Def Euro
Seat 6: RWG
Seat 7: ROWG
Seat 8: John Racecar
Seat 9: Internet Nerd with a Thunder Cats shirt on.

Max doubles me up when we both blank out on a board of 7s 9h Qh 4d 4c. I held Ah 7h x x vs his Kh Jh Th 9s. Sweet. Back up to 5000.

4500 at first break.

I gotta fold big starting hands on the flop in the 3rd level and get down to 1550. Time to use my rebuy chips.

For the first time tonight I pot it preflop to 1050 with Ac As Ks Qc. I get called 5 ways. WTF? The flop is 4 5 5. Check fold by me.

I bust the old guy next to me when he calls off all his chips with a low draw and gets counterfeited with the 2 that makes my straight.

After Thunder Cats Noooo busts and Kathy Liebert takes his seat.

I make a redonkculous lay down preflop, and I made it really quick.

I pot it in early position with A 2 Q Q to 1400 and John Racecar repots to 5K. He can only do that with 1 hand A A 2 x. Even if he has A 2 K K, I'm a huge dog. I fold. Bah!

John Racecar has been playing pretty tight. Very ABC for PLO8. So when he raises there, I know he has a big hand.

A couple of hands later into a limped pot I flop 3 pair with Q 2 7 and bet out 1200. The kid to my right repots it to 4800. WTF? Really? He has to hit the ole 1 outter for a set?

This kid is not an idiot, he's not doing it with A3. I fold. Blah fucker!

11,200 at dinner break.

Shortly after the dinner break ended I get moved to a new table. This one seems to gave more gamble than the other one.

The highlights are as follows:

Seat 1: Burno Fitoussi
Seat 2: JDN (yes I'm a highlight. I write this shit out!)
Seat 5: Rob Mizrachi
Seat 7: Ross Boatman
Seat 8: David Bach
Seat 9: Chip Jett

David Bach out!

I fold my way down to 8700 before it's folded to Bruno in the small blind. He pots it and I look down A A 4 7. I repot to 4500, Bruno puts me all in for 8700.

He shows A 2 3 9. Aces hold up and I double up to 17K.

Bruno out. He played like he had better things to do.

Man I'm tired.

A big stack RWG takes seat one.

Seat 3 busts and is replaced by a Random Euro FTP Pro. (REFTP?)

Rib Mizrachi is a beast. He's so aggressive that every time he folds preflop the guy on his right raises. Together they're kinda running over the table.

Man I'm tired.

17300 on break.

I pick up a few pots in the 400/800 by being aggressive and get up around 25K.

Then I pot it under the gun with Ad 2h 5s 7s. Rob Mizrachi calls. The flop falls 7 6 9. I bet 4500 and Rob calls.

The turn is a 4 and I check. I'm just trying to see where I'm at. Rob moves me all in.

Sooo I guess that where I'm at. I'm probably getting quartered but I have the straight redraw. Ok I call.

Rob asks me if I have A 2. I say yes and he says he thought he had A 2 too. Oh wow. He's embarrassed to turn over his hand.

Rob shows A 3 J Q. Wow.

The river is a T. Scoop! Pair of 7s for the high and A2 for the low. 51K. Ship it!

Table breaks and I get move to the next table to break. That's how I roll. Andy Bloch and Scott Clements are here.

I flop a set of deuces on a 2 6 T board and check raise the kid from my first table, all in. I show A 2 2 3 and he's got A A 3 Q. The turn is another T.

I got the high locked up since Andy Block threw away an ace.

The river is a lovely 9 that allows me to scoop! Up to 80K. That's double average ladies and gents!

The tables breaks (again) and I'm moved to a table with Daniel Negranue and Chris Reslock.

One more level and I can sleep.

I decide to play tight at this next table. So I bust 2 short stack players in one hand and get up to 100K. Yeah boy.

Then with about 10 minutes left in the level, I look down at Ac 2c x x. Its potted preflop and called 5 ways.

The flop is 3c 4c Ks. I like that. The old guy next to me bets 10K. I repot it to 38K. Everyone folds back to him. He tanks it. Shit. He's got a set of kings. I'm too tired and I didn't even take the time to think about what he had before I raised.

I got too much money in there and I make the decision to get it all in on the turn regardless of what it is. Oh, and BTW, he started the hand with about 70K.

The turn is the 9h and he shoves. I have to call. He show the Kh Kc for top set, I show my Ac 2c for nut low nut flush draw.

River is the Qc. Ding bitches!

The day ends two hands later and I bag up 185,900 in chips. That's good for chip leader and that's 50K more than anyone else.

Man I'm tired.

Back tomorrow at 2pm. You can also follow me on twitter @jdnewitt and on Poker Road's Twitter page at http://tweet.pkrrd.com/nation

JDN

WSOP $3K HORSE

HORSE Day 2

Apparently, I made a must win bet with Gavin last night. If either of us win, the other has to get a Prince Albert piercing. Yes. That's a ring through your peener. God I hope I win and he doesn't.

Brasilia Room Table 229 Seat 7

15100 in chips.

Table draw: (This one is a beast)

Seat 1: RPG
Seat 2: RWG
Seat 3: RWG, a Ginger.
Seat 4: Doyle Brunson
Seat 5: Kieth Sexton
Seat 6: Jennifer Harman
Seat 7: JDN
Seat 8: David Singer

Aiyeah! Not only are they "name" players, they're all very good at stud. I think I'm gonna have to get lucky today.

Annnd I really can't get lucky can I? I get chopped down to 5K pretty quick. Mostly due to Singer when he out draws me for a low in Stud 8.

Singer has his own game cards. Too bad we're playing omaha when this was taken.

Back up to 15K before I get into a big Razz hand with Singer and Jen. I have a 6 (4 3), Jen has a 5 showing and there's an ace up for Singer.

To cut a bad beat story short, David wins the pot with a Q T low and I lose with a K 6 low.

Down to 3500.

My little stack is so sad.

Jen busts. I totally thought I would be the first to go today.

I kinda double up to 4200 in stud8 when I go for the low and get an ace high flush to chop it up.

I look down a 7 (7 3) in stud 8 and I complete to 1K. Singer, with a Jh showing raises to 2K. The goofball in seat 2 reraises to 3K with a 5 showing. I rereraise to 4k and both players called. I hit a 5 on 4th street and put my last 400 in.

Needless to say brick brick brick for me and I never improve on my 77. Singer on the other hand Started the hand with Jh (5h 6h) and called 4 bets. Thats playing a little loose there Mr Singer.

Oh well I bust out. I'm not upset. I played good and just got out drawn on all my big hands.

I think I've played so good these last few tournaments, I'm actually encouraged to play some more. In fact I'm going to play the $5K PLO8 on Friday... now I just need to find someone to put me in.

JDN

WSOP #21 3K HORSE

The very first hand of hold'em I pick up queens and after my raise I have 4 callers. An ace flops and I call a bet to see the turn. It's not a queen and fold to another bet.

Not a good start.

Then I look down at queens again on the 3rd hand of the tournament. They hold up against a flush draw and I take down a nice 1st level pot.

That's a good sign.

Up 1K in 8 hands of hold'em.

Brasilia Room Table 198 Seat 7

I pick up another $600 in Omaha and I can clearly see the Laker game in the other side of the room. It's not ideal but it will work.

10K at break.

I run up to the iBar to meet Layne for a couple of Mango tangos while we watch the end of the first half of the Laker game.

When I get back to my table Phil Ivey is in seat 8. To my left. Great. Not only is he pretty good at poker, he's the luckiest player on the planet.

Table Draw:

Seat 1: RWG with a yellow fishing hat and a teddy bear sweatshirt on.
Seat 2: Old black guy named Ozzie that I used to play with at Hollywood Park.
Seat 3: Doyle's man servant.
Seat 4: ROWG with a sombrero
Seat 5: Older Russian guy that I've played with a lot.
Seat 6: RWG named Chad. Talks too much.
Seat 7: me myself and I
Seat 8: Phil Ivey

Omaha sucks and I did not play every hand. I just made bad calls on the river. Gotta stop doing that.

Ivey turns out to be my mush. I don 't win a hand for a whole level thanks to Phillip. 6K going into the 3rd level.

I finally win a hand in Razz against Phillip and get back up to 9K.

The Lakers just tied it up at 99 with 2 minutes left. Phillip has big money on Orlando. Noob.

Phillip is steaming slightly.

In stud, I complete with 7c (Tc 7d). Phillip raises to 400 and I call. 4th street for me is the 7s. I double bet and Phillip calls.

To make a lame story short, he calls me down the whole way and hits his club flush on 7th street.

Now this is where lucky Phillip comes into play. If he would have been paying attention to the poker game and not the basketball game he would have noticed that there were 4 clubs up and I had 2 more showing by the end of the hand.

So Phillip had to hit a 3 outer on 7th to beat me in a 6K pot.

That's how he rolls.

1725 at break. Yes 1725.

Second hand back from break I'm in the big blind and Phillip tries to raise from under the gun. But he only puts out 400 and the blinds are 150/300. That's a call. (BTW he had just raised to 600 the hand before).

Anywhoo I flop 2 pair with T2 and get called down by Ozzie and double to 3800.

Chau Chang moves to my right. Better awesome.

Back up to 5K with what I assume was a running bluff with 5s in stud. Got the Russian to fold on 6th street.

Chau Chau is petite. And he has dry hands. Long nails too.

5500 going into level 6.

I get it up to 6K before someone decides to limp for the first time in hold'em.

I call 200 from the small blind with Kh5h and Phillip checks his big blind. The flop is Ah 2h 6d. I check and Phillip bets out as expected. Ozzie, the OG limper raises to 800. I call. Phillip folds.

The turn is the Ks and I check call Ozzie.

The river is a Q and it's check check. Ozzie shows A8 off. Nice limp. Phillip cost me another 400 in chips. He's so bad for me.

4200.

I 3/4 a pot with guy wearing a sombrero to get back up to 6K.

Sometimes I play a pretty good short stack.

Just lost everything when I flopped a set of aces and lost to runner runner wheel. Down to 1600.

Doubled up in Razz against Doyle's man servant when I make a 9 6 low on 7th street.

3600 at break. Joe Stapleton is wearing a pink shirt.

I get all my chips in drawing to an 8 in razz against Ozzie and I actually get there. Back up to 8K.

88. That's lucky.

I think Terrence Chan got moved to my table.

No it's not Terrence. It's that Asian Accountant guy that got deep in the main event. Excuse my whiteness.

I didn't think I'd ever say this but thank god for limit hold'em. I get aggressive with two hands and take them both down on the turn.

Wait a second. Chau's male masseuse is getting way to close to me.

Anyway I check raise with AJ on a K Q x x board to win it and fire out with 7c7d on a Qd 9h 2d 3d board too.

Up to 17K when that Schwartz guy from the final table moves to out table.

Table break.

I move to table 239 with 15k.

Nick Frangos is on my left and Dario Alioto is in seat 3. There's also a female pokerstars pro in seat 5. She's from Brazil. No clue as to who she is.

Dario hits a royal on the last hand of limit hold'em. Luck sack.

Daniel walked by and winked at me.... What does that mean?

I end the day with 15100. I'm very happy about that and I'm even happier that Phillip has busted.

On to Day 2!

$500 HORSE at the Venetian

I get to the Venetian around the start time of 4pm and there's a line. A line? At the Venetian? For a HORSE tournament?

Whatever. I head over to the sportsbook to collect on my awesome bet on Brett Rogers to beat Andrei Arlovski in the MMA fight last night.

So that means this tourney is a FREEROLL!!!!

Table 75 seat 8

We start with 10K in chips and 20 minutes for each game. I still don't understand why they don't change the game every 8 hands. If Harrahs and the WSOP can do it, so can the Venetian. At least I would assume so.

Table draw:

Seat 1: RWG aka Douche Bag
Seat 2: ROWG, possibly a Euro. He also has the biggest fanny pack evar! Matusow would be jealous. If he pulled his shirt over it, he would look very preggers.
Seat 3: Agro Euro that I've played with before. I think he's Italian.
Seat 4: RBG
Seat 5: RAG with an Affliction shirt on. Bordering on douchiness but I'm not going to tap the aquarium.
Seat 6: RYWG. He's pretty bad at all the games.
Seat 7: ROWG
Seat 8: J to the D to the N

I play drum tight for the first 5 levels, they're only 20 minutes long and nothing interesting happens.

I get to the first break with 11750

I decide to put on a clinic in the 2nd round of razz. I pick up 4 or 5 pots before the show down with a face showing or a pair visible. It helps that people are checking out of turn and the Asian kid pretty much tells you his hand with his facial expressions. I like my table.

I got 15K when we head into the stud level.

The douche in seat 1 opens up his hand on 7th street in stud8 before I can act. He's got 22 for a high. I have a 76 low no pair.

I check and open my hand and split the pot. Wait! Damn it! I should have bet. There's no way he could've called.

Well, he's bad enough that he might have.

14k going into the 2nd break and the Lakers are in overtime.

I chop down fanny pack guy in hold'em and he busts a few hands later.

Agro Euro busts at the beginning of Omaha. They're probably the first two out of the tourney.

Fucking Omaha! In a massive 4 way pot I lose 3500 with 3s full of 4s vs 3s full of 5s. Two other donks were playing nut lows. I thought I was taking half the pot and even when the cards were turned over I still thought I was getting half because the Affliction Asian said he had a 7 high straight. Then he saw his full house. Bah.

Down to 11K.

Here comes razz!

Ok... I'm either the wrostest or the bestest razz player. I personally think I'm reading the other players hands really well and making great bets.

I win two big pots when I'm the bring with a 9, and with the Ks. Got paid off the whole way with Ks hand when I make a 7 5 4 2 A low.

I know it sounds like a bad play, but believe me. It played it perfect.

Up to 15500.

The numbers are in! 230 players, 34K for 1st place. That would be nice.

16600 at break. I think the payouts are wrong. It's paying out 18 spots for an 8 handed tourney. That's probably wrong. I'm gonna start some shit.

Look like that's the way they pay out. Couldn't get in a TDA fight. Damn.

Cyndy Violette, Roy Winston, and Hollywood Douche (Dave), sightings on break. Times are tough.

I get a little frisky in the hold'em level and fire 4 bullets with A high and a gutter ball. The Afflicted Asian finally called thinking he was losing. Awesome.

Omaha sucks. That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Frankie O'Dell moves to our table. Lovely.

9400 at dinner break.

I see an awesome hooker on hooker fight in front of the Venetian. I got a burrito in hand and I'm just waiting fir the titties to start flying.

They never make an appearance but the quote of the fight was, "Lemme catch my breath. I smoke."

I love las vegas sometimes.

On the 2nd hand of razz I have an ace showing with a 3 5 in the hole. I complete and Frankie raises with a 5 showing. The Afflicted Asian calls with a 5 showing, and someone else calls.

On 4th street Frankie catches a 9, the Asian gets a Ten, other guy gets a Q and I get a 6. Sweet. I'm first to act and I bet out. Frankie raises. What? The Asian with the T calls. Wait!

Other guy folds and I ask the dealer if we're playing razz. He says yes and I raise. Don't you worry. It gets capped 3 ways.

On 5th street Frankie gets a K, the Asian hits a J and I have a K. I bet. Call call.

Morons. I'm drawing to a 6 while they're drawing to a 9 and a ten.

6th street pairs Frankie's K, pairs the Asian's J and pairs my 6. I'm still way ahead. I bet.

Call call. I have 700 left and I put it in blind before the I get dealt 7th street.

Frankie calls and so does the Asian. WHAT THE FUCK!? Really?

I squeeze my and hand I see that I pick up the last K in the deck to get a pair of sixes for a low. Frankie flips over his 98 low like its the nuts and it is. The Asian drew a 10 7 low.

I stand up and tell Frankie to be really proud of that hand. Fucking morons.

I've never been so mad after a hand as I was after that one. I really don't have the words for it.

So I take all the money in my pocket to the blackjack table and try to lose it all.

Some how I make money and end up for the day. I'm still steaming though.

$3K WSOP HORSE is up next for me.

JDN

Venetian Deep Stack $500 NLH

I decided yesterday to play this tourney rather than the WSOP $5K because I knew the players would be much more weak here. I feel that I'll have an advantage over the average player here compared to the ones at the Rio and... who am I kidding? I don't have the bank roll to play a $5K.

I'm slum'n it at the Venetian.

Table 81... holy shit! Table 81! I'm almost in the sports book. Seat 5.

Table draw:

Seat 1: RWG that is either homeless or he had a really long night.
Seat 2: RWG and that's all I'm gonna say about him.
Seat 3: Alan Smurfit. Wait, what? Does this guy own shipyards in Ireland? And a casino or 2?
Seat 4: ROWG
Seat 5: The hero with a heart of gold, JDN
Seat 6: ROWG with a lot of tells. It's awesome. I've called out his hand twice.
Seat 7: RAG, the hungover Filipino.
Seat 8: Rocker Dude. Looks like he shops at Hot Topic.
Seat 9: ROWG
Seat 10: RWG with an arm sock and peeling skin. Possibly a leper.

After an under the gun min raise and a call, I look down at KK and raise to 1500. The hungover Filipino calls as does the original raiser. The flop is A high, as if there was ever a doubt, and we check it to the river when Mr Hangover decides to bet 5K. Wha....

OG raiser folds and I fold my KK face up. Blah.

A little later on, The Leper in seat 10 limps under the gun. I raise to 700 with QQ and the big blind calls before The Leper reraise to 5K. Yes 5K.

Well there's only one hand he could have there. Right? Wrong.

I fold pretty quickly and the big blind moves in. Holy moley. The Leper quickly calls and shows KK. Big blind shows AK. Wow. Those are a couple of amazing plays.

A king flops and the ROWG in seat 9 is busto.

A couple of hands before the first break the Rocker Dude raise to 700 in early position. I look down at JJ in the big blind and merely call. Bad move.

I'll spare myself from recounting the whole hand but he got it all in on the river with the board reading 7 8 Q 7 6. He showed 88. Damn it Beavis!!

5750 at break.

To ease my pain I place a bet on tonight's MMA fight. Of course I pick the underdog that needs to suck out to win and play a little video poker. Up $25 and I head back to the tourney.

Alan Smurfit has pulled out his WSOP bracelet and is showing it to his neighbors. Tacky!

Then it's double up time!! My KK vs Rocker Dude's QQ. I'm up to 13,725 before I lose 4200 with JJ vs The Leper's AA.

Around 9000 going into the 200/400 level.

The homeless guy in seat 1 raises to 1K under the gun and I call with two red 7s. The Hungover Filapino calls too.

The flop falls, 5h 9h 2d. Check check to me and I bet 2500. Mr Hangover calls and the Homeless guy folds. The turn is the 8d. Hangover checks to me and I bet 4k. He askes me how much more I have. I count out 4200. He thinks about it for a minute before announcing 4200.

What?

He threw out 5200. What? Again. I guess he was trying to raise but could not count or verbalize it. So its a call.

The river is a Qc. He moves in for 4700. Really? Fuck. I know he's an idiot. He could have anything and he was trying to check raise the turn. If he can actually execute a check raise there I can call because I have the gutshot straight draw too. But in this position, I'd be calling with 3 overs on the board and a moron all in.

I have 10 big blinds left and that means fold equity. Fuck. I fold and he shows Ad 5d. BAh!!!!

I hate and love these idiots at this same time.

A few hands later the leper raises it up and the new RAG in seat 3 reraises to 4100. I look down at 7c 8c. I have exactly 4100 left. I put it in expecting to get heads up with the RAG and I figure I gotta have two live cards and hopefully my suit is live.

Then the leper calls. The flop is 7 Q 5. Check check. I'm definately ahead at this point. The turn is an A. Fuck. Leper bets into a dry side pot, and the RAG calls.

I need a 7 or an 8 to win these hand.

The river is a 6.

The leper says he has K high and the RAG turns over AJ off. WHAT THE FUCK?!!

So I just saw a reraise with AJ and a bet into a dry side pot with K high.

Fuck this place, I'm outta here.

JDN

The Savage Invitational Golf Tournament

This is pretty much going to be a photo essay. Not to mention this happened about two weeks ago and I'm too lazy to write this up in a timely fashion.

For road trips I need fuel. Chipotle seems to do the trick and the burritos fit perfectly in the cup holders.



The night before the first round we meet at the Eureka Casino to get our tee times and gift bags.

George Karl is a little red and Matt Savage is very happy to hand out gifts.

Savage decided to be patriotic with the grab bags

After dinner Gracz, Katkin and I jump into a 2/8 spread limit game and Gracz announces that he is the world's greatest 2/8 player.

As Joe Tehan joins the game, Gracz asks if anyone will go skinny dipping with him at the hotel pool. The table is suspiciously silent.

I bust out of the game when I flop trip 6s vs a full house. Tehan folds the gut shot straight flush draw after the guy with the full house tells him he has a full house. The straight flush gets there. I hope Tehan is better at golf than poker.

Day 1

Hole 1

Oh boy. This is gonna be a long day.

I get bets down with Katkin, Gracz, Melissa Hayden, and Matt Savage. I'm playing them all straight up, $25 on the front 9, $25 on the back 9, $25 on the overall, and $5 a putt.

It's about 105 out too. Starting to sweat already.

Our group consists of Joe Tehan, Paul Taylor, Jon Katkin, and myself. I'm probably the worst golfer among us.

Hole 4:



On the 4th I hit my 4 hybrid over the mountain range and land a few feet off the green. My chip hits the pin and I birdie the hole with a 4 foot put. Sometimes I play good.

Front 9 totals:
Katkin - 52
JDN - 48

Hole 13:

This is my tee shot on 13. That's how I roll.

I shoot a 9 on 13. Did I mention we're hitting from the red tees today? Only 4000 yards and I struggling to break 100. So poor.

Day 1 totals:
Katkin - 100
JDN - 98

Back at the club house I find out that Savage beat me by 18 strokes, Gracz shot the lights out on the front 9 and destroyed me on the overall, and Hayden beat me in putts. Maybe I should quit golf, but I did win a $90 skin for my birdie on 4. I think that was split 3 ways. That damn chip should have been in the damn cup.

We play a bounty poker tournament that night and I make the final table along with Paul Taylor and Melissa Hayden. I finish 7th and collect nothing for my efforts save one bounty.

Day 2

I get bets down with Katkin and Gracz. Same bets and we're playing the blues today. It's 6500 yards from the blues. I'm going to be sore tonight.

In today's group its me and Katkin with a couple of old ladies named Matt and Andy. Matt won this tournament last year as a 14 handicap.

I've had to hit this shot on hole 1 two days in a row, blind shot to the pin, over the mountain. Who chose this course?

6th Hole

Front 9 scores:
Katkin - 57
JDN - 59

We are so bad.

Hole 11:



Hole 11 is a par 3 and it drops down about 200 feet from the tee. I step up with a 6 iron and hit my shot. Looks good. It drops about 20 yards to the right of the green, takes a great bounce and rolls onto the green. Sweet! Then it keeps rolling. Rolling to about 6 feet in front of the pin. That's closest to the pin! Yeah boy!

Katkin's tee shot lands 3 feet in front of the green on the fringe. Then he chips it in with his fake "chipper" club for a birdie. I miss my 6 footer and my chance for a skin. Damn it!

Katkin is a cheater.

12th hole

17th hole. I hate this hole and it knows it. I almost get hit in the back of the head with a ball from a tee shot from 16. Fuck this hole. Not to mention the lowest score I get on it in 3 days is a 9.

Day 2 totals:
Katkin - 122
JDN - 117

That is so bad. So so bad. We should quit.

I hit up the casino bar to watch hockey and play video poker.

ship it!

The Pens win and I in turn, win $50 from Gracz who loves the Hurricanes. There should be no hockey in the Carolinas. Its just wrong.

Day 3

On day 3 I get stuck with Matt Savage, Mike Gracz, and Paul Taylor. This should be a train wreck. I wish Joy Miller was here to be my caddie. Someone would def go to the hospital.

The bets get down and we're off. Me and Savage vs Paul and Gracz, straight up. I take no part of that bet because, well because, I suck and Gracz sucks just a little bit less than me.

On 6 I grab a Heineken before I tee off. It seems to work as I absolutely crush my shot. It clears the creek and ends up about 75 yards from the pin. That's a 330 yard drive. Thank you very much. Too bad I hit the second shot fat and end up with a bogey on the hole.

Hole 7

Gracz leeves his 2nd shot short and we all watch him stand on the edge of a painful death to make his shot.

fall motherfucker fall!

Hole 8

Savage puts his tee shot in the front of the par 3 green and into the creek. Paul and I put ours in the creek too but opt to chip up from the drop zone.

Savage scours the creek for his ball and soon the shoes come off.

His first shot goes no where, but the second gets out of the water and showers Matt in mud.

It takes us at least 20 minutes to play this hole. Thank you Savage for not dropping and making us stand in the sun for 15 minutes that we didn't need too.

I'm playing so bad.


Front 9 totals:
Grazc - 49
JDN - 52
Paul - 40
Savage - 47

On hole 14, Gracz announces that his alter ego, the Hulk is back. He doesn't break a club but he comes close after blowing up on a couple of holes in a row. I like this version of Mr Gracz.

Hole 14. An amazing hole, that amazingly, I played well all three days.

I shoot a 10 on 17 again. I hate that hole.

On 18 Paul 3 puts and gives Matt and I the win. Yay! Too bad I didn't have any action on it.

Day 3 overall:
Gracz - 100
JDN - 113
Paul - 83
Savage - 89

I don't know how we won but Savage said we did so I'll believe him. I remind myself not believe him the next time we play heads up. You gotta keep an eye on him at all times.

I bounce out pretty quickly to get back to Vegas and the opening of Santana at the Hard Rock. Had fun but its too damn hot in Mesquite in June to play 3 days of golf. Specially since I suck so bad.

WSOP coming up!

JDN